Controllable synthesis of Zn0.95Co0.05O nanowires and nanotubes by electrophoretic deposition method

Zn0.95Co0.05O nanotubes, as well as nanowires, were controllably synthesized by electrophoretic deposition method using anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) as template, and the mechanism of electrophoretic deposition was discussed. Careful characterization indicates that the prepared nanotubes and nanowires are of poly-crystal wurtzite structure and composed with 8-15 nm nano-crystals. The doped Co2+ occupied the Zn2+ sites in the ZnO lattice. Magnetic investigation indicates that the obtained nanotubes and nanowires are of room-temperature ferromagnetic. The magnetism of the nanotubes is much higher than that of the nanowires for the surface-preferential Co distribution.